Kismet, originally billed as "a Musical Arabian Night" in 1953, is a rollicking and romantic look at Middle-Eastern life borrowing themes from the Russian composer Alexander Borodin.

The book is by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, drawn from a play by Edward Knoblock, with music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest (Grand Hotel, Song of Norway, Kean). The score includes "Stranger in Paradise," "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and the raucous "Not Since Nineveh."

An M-G-M movie of "Kismet" (1955) starred Howard Keel (in tanning makeup), and a 1978 revision of it appeared on Broadway as Timbuktu, re setting the action in Africa (Eartha Kitt and Melba Moore starred). Co songwriter Robert Wright died July 27 at age 90. Forrest predeceased him.

Danny Gurwin has appeared on Broadway in Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty, The Scarlet Pimpernel and A Little Night Music. His Off-Broadway credits include The Thing About Men, Shakespeare’s R & J, Forbidden Broadway 2001, A New Brain, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Captains Courageous, A Majority of One and Kuni-Leml. Subscription prices to all three productions in the Tony Award-honored Encores! series are $270 for the Orchestra, Grand Tier, and Mid-mezzanine; and $120 for the Rear Mezzanine and Front Gallery. Individual tickets prices are $90 (Orchestra, Grand Tier, Mid-mezzanine), $50 (Rear Mezzanine, Front Gallery) and $25 (Rear Gallery).